Means for locating sunken vessels.



J. A. PUTNAM.

MEANS FOR LOCATIN G SUNKEN VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- IZ. l9l 7- Patented June 18, 1918.

Jain A. Pufnflin,

JOHN A. PUTNAM, OF HARDIIN', MONTANA.

MEANS FOR LOCATING SUNKEN' VESSELS.

Application filed September 12, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. PUTNAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hardin, in the county of Big Horn and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Locating Sunken Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends the provision of an attachment for vessels, and by means of which the location of a sunken vessel may be determined.

In carrying out the invention I make use of an air-tight buoy adapted to be detachably mounted upon the vessel, and connected to one end of a cable which is wound about a drum or the like fixed upon the vessel, so that when the buoy is released from the vessel it will maintain a position upon the surface of the water as the vessel continues to sink, the buoy affording means to determine the location of the vessel for the purpose of recovering the cargo and ultimate salving of the vessel.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view through a vessel showing the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the buoy in use.

In the drawing A indicates a vessel which may be of any design or construction, the buoy forming part of the invention being indicated at 10. The latter may be constructed of wood, steel or other material, and of any suitable dimensions, and by preference has painted or engraved thereon the name of the vessel with which it is used. The buoy is air-tight, and has connected to one extremity the end of a cable 12. The cable is wound about a drum 13 which is journaled within a casing 14, the cable passing from the casing to a restricted opening in,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1918.

Serial No. 191,069.

the top thereof. The casing 14 is effectively secured to an appropriate part of the vessel by means of stay bolts 15, the casing being provided to prevent wreckage or any other obstacles from interfering with the free unwinding of the cable from the reel, when the vessel is descending.

Secured to the vessel is a flanged annulus 17 constituting the seat for the buoy. Any suitable means may be employed for maintaining the buoy fixed relatively to its seat under normal conditions, but by preference a plurality of set screws 18 are associated with the annulus, and are adapted to be adjusted into contacting engagement with the buoy to maintain the latter positioned upon its seat. In practice, when it is obvious that the vessel is doomed, the set screws 18 are loosened to free the buoy, and as the vessel continues to submerge the cable is unwound. from the reel permitting the buoy to maintain its position upon the surface of the water. The buoy thus affords means by which the location of a sunken vessel may be readily determined.

While it is believed that the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of parts illustrated, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is 1. Means for indicatin the position of a sunken vessel, said vesse having an opening for the reception of said buoy, an annulus surrounding said opening and constituting a seat for said buoy, comprising an air-tight buoy, means carried by said annulus for holding said buoy seated thereon,

and a cable having one end fixed, and its opposite end secured to the buoy whereby the latter assumes a position upon the surface of the water subsequent to the release of the buoy from the vessel.

2. Means for indicating the position of a sunken vessel, comprising an air-tight buoy, a vessel having an opening for the reception of said u y, a annulus surround ing said opening and constituting a seat for ing in th casing and secured to said buoy, said buoy, means carried by said annulus for whereby said cable is unwound from the holding said buoy seated thereon, a casing drum subsequent to the release of the buoy 10 mounted upon the vessel beneath said openfrom the VGSSGL- 1 5 ing, a drum journaled within the casing, and In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

a cable wound about said drum and-having W one end extended through a restricted open- JOHN PUTNAM.

(fie-pies of this patent may be obtained for five cents-each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

